Written Answers Monday 17 August 2009

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many orchards there are and where.

Richard Lochhead: Information is available from the June Agricultural Census on commercial orchards. The following table shows the number of agricultural holdings with commercial orchards, by agricultural region, along with the corresponding areas.

  

 
Commercial Orchards


Holdings
Area (Hectares)


North West
Shetland
0
0.00


Orkney
0
0.00


Eileanan an Iar
*
*


Highland
28
5.77


North East
NE Scotland
20
4.92


South East
Tayside
12
4.20


Fife
*
*


Lothian
*
*


Scottish Borders
*
*


South West
East Central
0
0.00


Argyll and Bute
5
1.91


Clyde Valley
13
20.68


Ayrshire
*
*


Dumfries and Galloway
11
5.44


Scotland
105
47.33



  Note: *To prevent disclosure of information about individual holdings this information has been suppressed.

  Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding it has provided to the Scottish Agricultural College to undertake research into the suitability of agricultural crops for Scottish environments in each of the last four years.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding it estimates it will provide to the Scottish Agricultural College to undertake research into the suitability of agricultural crops for Scottish environments in 2010-11.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reduce the level of funding for the Scottish Agricultural College to undertake research into the suitability of agricultural crops for Scottish environments in the next two years and, if so, for what reasons.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government commissioned a research programme on Profitable and Sustainable Agriculture – Plants in 2006, from which the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) is receiving an annual grant for strategic research of approximately £1.5 million for the period 2006-07 to 2010-11. The Scottish Government is currently in discussion with stakeholders regarding the priority questions for strategic research which will be commissioned from 2011. SAC, as one of the Scottish Government’s main research providers, is aware of and fully involved in this process.

  In addition, the Scottish Government contracts SAC to undertake crop variety trialling and associated activities. The funding for this is as follows:

  

2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11


Actual (£m)
Actual (£m)
Actual (£m)
Budget (£m)
Plan (£m)


0.261
0.336
0.292
0.260
0.230



  The reduction in contract funding for 2010-11 is due to the constant search for best value and need to find sums for the pressing issue of climate change. The contract funding for 2011-12 will be determined nearer the time.

Alcohol

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many test purchases were carried out in off-sales between January 2009 and June 2009 and how many resulted in alcohol being sold to an (a) underage person and (b) underage person for the second time, broken down by police force.

Kenny MacAskill: The use of test purchasing is an operational decision for each police force. We understand most test purchasing is intelligence-led and deployed in premises with a perceived problem of sales of alcohol to those under the age of 18.

  The number of test purchases carried out in off-sales between January 2009 and June 2009 which resulted in alcohol being sold to an (a) underage person and (b) underage person for the second time, broken down by police force, can be found in the following table.

  

 
Off-sales Tested
1st Test Purchase Failure
2nd Test Purchase Failure


Central
3
0
0


Dumfries and Galloway
0
0
0


Fife
70
11
0


Grampian
10
2
1


Lothian and Borders
117
17
0


Northern
5
1
0


Strathclyde
219
23
0


Tayside
0
0
0


Scotland
424
54
1

Alcohol

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many test purchases were carried out in on-sales between January 2009 and June 2009 and how many resulted in alcohol being sold to an (a) underage person and (b) underage person for the second time, broken down by police force.

Kenny MacAskill: The use of test purchasing is an operational decision for each police force. We understand most test purchasing is intelligence-led and deployed in premises with a perceived problem of sales of alcohol to those under the age of 18.

  The number of test purchases carried out in on-sales between January 2009 and June 2009 which resulted in alcohol being sold to an (a) underage person and (b) underage person for the second time, broken down by police force, can be found in the following table.

  

 
On-sales Tested
1st Test Purchase Failure
2nd Test Purchase Failure


Central
1
0
0


Dumfries and Galloway
0
0
0


Fife
0
0
0


Grampian
10
8
1


Lothian and Borders
0
0
0


Northern
0
0
0


Strathclyde
0
0
0


Tayside
0
0
0


Scotland
11
8
1

Angling

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20016 by Richard Lochhead on 5 February 2009, when it expects its economic report into the value of sea angling to be published.

Richard Lochhead: The Report into the Economic Impact of Recreational Sea Angling in Scotland was published on 29 July 2009. The report is available online at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/seaanglingstudy.

Animal Welfare

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24922 by Richard Lochhead on 9 July 2009, whether it is aware that only one greyhound racing track in Scotland stages races under the Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s rules of racing.

Richard Lochhead: We are aware that the only greyhound racing track in Scotland to stage races under the Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s rules of racing is the greyhound racing track at Shawfield in Glasgow. However, advice on track safety and other matters is available to all greyhound tracks, including the independent tracks from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.

  Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24922 by Richard Lochhead on 9 July 2009, whether it considers that self-regulation of the greyhound racing industry has been satisfactory.

Richard Lochhead: We are not aware of any specific welfare problems associated with greyhound racing in Scotland and have no reason to believe that the self-regulation of the greyhound racing industry is less than satisfactory.

  In Scotland, all dogs, including greyhounds, used in racing are fully protected under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. Section 24 of the Act requires those responsible for animals to take appropriate steps to ensure that the needs of these animals are met. These needs include the provision of a suitable environment and to be protected from suffering, injury or disease. The provisions of this Act apply when greyhounds are racing, at the racetrack, during transport to and from the racetrack and when the greyhounds are in their home environment.

Asthma

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19684 by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 January 2009, what guidelines are being issued to NHS Lanarkshire regarding (a) financial or (b) professional support to assist people with asthma.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) of the new GMS contract incentivises GPs to record the number of patients diagnosed with asthma and to put in place a system of for their ongoing review.

  The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) published a revised Guideline (101) on the management of asthma on 30 June 2009 and NHS boards are expected to develop local protocols for the implementation of such guidelines.

  In addition, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) published clinical standards for asthma services for children and young people in March 2007, which provide clear advice and guidance on effective clinical practice. NHS boards’ progress towards implementing the standards was reviewed in November 2008 and the recommendations contained within the NHS QIS report are being taken forward by the respiratory MCNs which have been developed in all NHS boards, many of them with pump priming funding from the Scottish Government. The development of the respiratory MCN in NHS Lanarkshire has encouraged the board to invest substantially in the development of its respiratory services.

  In line with Guideline 101, and the recommendations from the NHS QIS report, NHS Lanarkshire has developed the Children’s Asthma Practice Support (CAPS) scheme, which it expects will lead to improved access to asthma services.

Bees

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the origins of the outbreak of European foulbrood among bees in Tayside.

Richard Lochhead: It is too early to establish what the origin of the European foulbrood outbreak was.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many government inspectors were deployed initially to deal with the outbreak of European foulbrood in Tayside and what the reasons were for any subsequent change in numbers.

Richard Lochhead: Following a report of a foulbrood outbreak in England, which indicated that the bee stocks were sourced from the Perthshire area, a Scottish Government bee inspector made the initial visit to the relevant apiary.

  Subsequently, a total of nine bee inspectors have been working on this outbreak at various times. Unfortunately two of these bee inspectors reacted adversely to bee stings and are unable to take any further part in the surveillance exercises, however their knowledge and skills are being utilised in non-field support including manning the Bee Helpline.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what immediate and longer term action is being taken to prevent the spread of the outbreak of European foulbrood in Tayside.

Richard Lochhead: In line with contingency plan arrangements for the confirmation of honey bee diseases, standstill notices have been put in place.

  Longer term arrangements include publicising what information is available to help beekeepers. This will include improving access to advice, education and training in order to enable beekeepers to more effectively identify, control and eradicate disease.

  Hopefully beekeeping associations will be working to ensure their members have access to best possible advice.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what standstill orders are in place regarding the movement of bees and when these are likely to be reviewed and extended.

Richard Lochhead: As at 6 August 2009 there have been six standstill notices issued by the Scottish Government.

  These notices will be reviewed and the appropriate action taken after the follow-up inspections which are required to take place not less than six weeks after treatment/destruction. If it is too late in the season to open hives safely then the six week inspection can be held over until the spring.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional monitoring arrangements have been put in place in (a) Perthshire and (b) beyond regarding the outbreak of European foulbrood in Tayside.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government bee inspectors are concentrating on confirmed cases of the disease and their contact colonies.

  Following a request, at the first Disease Stakeholder Group, our bee inspectors returned to their local areas throughout Scotland for two days to carry out spot checks to ascertain if there is any endemicity indicated. The samples taken in Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire, Stirlingshire and the Borders were all negative.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to inform beekeepers in (a) Perthshire and (b) the rest of Scotland of the outbreak of European foulbrood in Tayside and how effective these measures have been assessed to be.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government have kept in contact with the two main beekeeping associations (Scottish Beekeepers Association and the Beefarmers Association) and notified them within two days of confirmation of the European foulbrood (EFB) outbreak. The associations then in turn notified their members who were in the relevant surveillance zones.

  When it became clear that the disease outbreak was more widespread, additional information was made available on the Scottish Government website and we have also introduce a Bee Helpline which will give beekeepers information about what to do if they have any concerns.

  A Disease Stakeholders Group has also been established and this group will meet on a regular basis to ensure effective management of the outbreak.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the outbreak of European foulbrood is confined solely to Perthshire.

Richard Lochhead: The European foulbrood outbreak has not been confined solely to Perthshire. Further positive samples have been found in the Angus, Fife and Aberdeenshire areas.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that sufficient stocks of antibiotics are available to combat the outbreak of European foulbrood in Tayside and how they will be effectively distributed.

Richard Lochhead: In the event of an outbreak of a notifiable disease in honeybees, the Scottish Government has contingency plan arrangements in place which enables the necessary antibiotics to be ordered.

  The Disease Stakeholder Group is currently deciding on the best practice for effective distribution of any antibiotic.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the seriousness of the outbreak of European foulbrood in Tayside.

Richard Lochhead: As with any notifiable disease outbreak, the Scottish Government considers the outbreak of European foulbrood in Scotland to be a serious issue.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when its bee strategy will be announced and implemented.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has already announced its intention to publish a 10 year Honey Bee Health Strategy for Scotland and it will be published in September 2009.

Crime

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homicides there were in 2007-08, broken down by (a) police force area and (b) main method of killing.

Kenny MacAskill: Homicide Victims, by Main Method of Killing and Police Force Area, 2007-08

  

Main Method of Killing
Central
Dumfries and Galloway
Fife
Grampian
Lothian and Borders
Northern
Strathclyde
Tayside


Shooting
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
0


Sharp instrument
1
0
2
3
7
2
39
1


Blunt instrument
0
0
1
1
1
0
4
1


Hitting and kicking
0
0
2
1
1
0
8
3


Strangulation/asphyxiation
0
0
0
0
1
0
5
0


Drowning
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0


Fire
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1


Poisoning
0
0
0
0
5
3
4
0


Other or unknown
2
1
1
1
3
0
2
1


All methods
3
1
6
6
19
6
66
7



  Source: Scottish Government annual homicide statistics return.

  In 2007-08 there were 114 homicide cases in Scotland, each of which involved one victim. For 111 of the 114 homicide victims in 2007-08, one or more accused persons have been identified, as at 28 November 2008. One hundred and forty eight accused persons have been identified in total.

  Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homicides there were in 2007-08, broken down by (a) police force area, (b) age of accused and (c) sex of accused.

Kenny MacAskill: Persons Accused in Homicide Cases by Sex and Age, and Police Force Area, 2007-08

  

Sex and Age of Accused
Central
Dumfries and Galloway
Fife
Grampian
Lothian and Borders
Northern
Strathclyde
Tayside


Male, under 16
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1


Male, 16 to 30
2
0
7
4
14
2
36
5


Male, 31 to 50
2
0
4
2
7
2
29
3


Male, over 50
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
0


All Males
4
0
11
6
21
5
74
9


Female, under 16
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Female, 16 to 30
0
1
0
2
2
0
7
0


Female, 31 to 50
0
0
0
0
1
1
3
0


Female, over 50
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0


All Females
0
1
0
2
3
1
11
0



  Source: Scottish Government annual homicide statistics return.

  In 2007-08 there were 114 homicide cases in Scotland, each of which involved one victim. For 111 of the 114 homicide victims in 2007-08, one or more accused persons have been identified, as at 28 November 2008. One hundred and forty eight accused persons have been identified in total.

  Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homicides there were in 2007-08, broken down by (a) police force area and (b) relationship of main accused to victim.

Kenny MacAskill: Homicide in Scotland, by Relationship of Main Accused to Victim, by Police Force Area, 2007-08

  

Relationship of Main Accused to Victim
Central
Dumfries and Galloway
Fife
Grampian
Lothian and Borders
Northern
Strathclyde
Tayside


Son or daughter
0
0
1
1
1
0
2
0


Parent
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0


Partner or ex-partner
1
0
1
2
2
3
12
1


Other relative
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0


Friend/social acquaintance
1
1
2
1
8
1
16
1


Business or criminal associate
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
2


Rival gang member
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0


Other known
0
0
0
1
5
0
14
1


Stranger
1
0
1
0
3
0
8
2


Not known
0
0
0
0
0
2
5
0


Total
3
1
6
6
19
6
63
7



  Source: Scottish Government annual homicide statistics return.

  In 2007-08 there were 114 homicide cases in Scotland, each of which involved one victim. For 111 of the 114 homicide victims in 2007-08, one or more accused persons have been identified, as at 28 November 2008. One hundred and forty eight accused persons have been identified in total.

  Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homicides there were in 2007-08, broken down by (a) age of accused and (b) main method of killing.

Kenny MacAskill: Homicide Victims, by Main Method of Killing and Age of Main Accused, 2007-08

  

Main Method of Killing
5 to 15 Years
16 to 20 Years
21 to 29 Years
30 to 49 Years
50 to 69 Years
70 Years and over
Total


Shooting
0
1
2
1
0
0
4


Sharp instrument
1
11
15
22
6
0
55


Blunt instrument
0
0
4
3
0
0
7


Hitting and kicking
1
3
3
6
1
0
14


Strangulation/asphyxiation
0
0
4
0
0
2
6


Drowning
0
1
0
0
1
0
2


Fire
0
0
0
1
0
0
1


Poisoning
0
0
7
5
0
0
12


Other or unknown
0
0
5
5
0
0
10


All methods
2
16
40
43
8
2
111



  Source: Scottish Government annual homicide statistics return.

  In 2007-08 there were 114 homicide cases in Scotland, each of which involved one victim. For 111 of the 114 homicide victims in 2007-08, one or more accused persons have been identified, as at 28 November 2008. One hundred and forty eight accused persons have been identified in total.

  Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homicides there were in 2007-08, broken down by (a) sex of accused and (b) main method of killing.

Kenny MacAskill: Homicide Victims, by Main Method of Killing and Sex of Main Accused, 2007-08

  

Main Method of Killing
Male
Female
Total


Shooting
4
0
4


Sharp instrument
50
5
55


Blunt instrument
7
0
7


Hitting and kicking
14
0
14


Strangulation/asphyxiation
6
0
6


Drowning
2
0
2


Fire
1
0
1


Poisoning
8
4
12


Other or unknown
9
1
10


All methods
101
10
111



  Source: Scottish Government annual homicide statistics return.

  In 2007-08 there were 114 homicide cases in Scotland, each of which involved one victim. For 111 of the 114 homicide victims in 2007-08, one or more accused persons have been identified, as at 28 November 2008. One hundred and forty eight accused persons have been identified in total.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made or will make a submission to the European Commission under revised arrangements for the Scottish Rural Development Programme on provisions for improving access to broadband for purposes beyond and including agriculture.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25116 on 14 July 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Drug Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people detained by the police in the Lothians region had drugs in their system in the latest year for which information is available, broken down by type of drug.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.

Employment

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 50,000 training places announced in 2007 have been created and in what sectors.

Fiona Hyslop: More than 50,000 training opportunities have been created and delivered in each of the years 2007-08 and 2008-09. Information on the sectoral breakdown of these is not held centrally.

  Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what new actions have been taken to tackle unemployment in the east end of Glasgow in the last 12 months.

Fiona Hyslop: Employment is an issue reserved to the UK Government who have introduced a range of new initiatives over the last 12 months.

  In 2008, Glasgow’s community planning partnership was awarded £7.3 million in European Social Fund (ESF) and £1.1 million in European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grants to support more people in the city’s most deprived areas, to move towards and into sustained employment over the two years to 2010.

  In April this year, the eligibility rules for Training for Work (TfW), the Scottish Government’s vocational skills programme for the unemployed, were changed to allow access to the programme when people reach the three month unemployed stage – previously they had to wait for six months. Lone parents, those with disabilities and those recently made redundant are among specific groups who already have immediate access to the programme.

  An additional 3,150 TfW training places will be available in the coming year following an award of almost £3 million ESF money in June of this year.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the (a) bodies providing local management for the Business Gateway programme and (b) funding allocated to each body for the current year and future years.

Jim Mather: The management of local Business Gateway delivery is provided by the following local authorities:

  Aberdeenshire Council,

  Argyll and Bute Council,

  City of Edinburgh Council,

  Comhairle nan Eilean Siar,

  Dumfries and Galloway Council,

  Dundee City Council,

  Falkirk Council,

  Fife Council,

  Glasgow City Council,

  Moray Council,

  North Ayrshire Council,

  North Lanarkshire Council,

  Orkney Islands Council,

  Renfrewshire Council,

  Scottish Borders Council,

  Shetland Islands Council,

  The Highland Council,

  West Dunbartonshire Council.

  As agreed with COSLA, a total of some £14 million per annum will be transferred to the local government finance settlement and paid as part of the unhypothecated general grant allocations to these local authorities. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled its statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local outcomes including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives.

  Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the financial and other support available to businesses under the Business Gateway programme that could assist them in undertaking the work necessary to achieve certification to ISO standards.

Jim Mather: The Business Gateway provides wide ranging advice on the support available to businesses throughout Scotland, including advice on ISO standards. Details of that advice can be found at www.bgateway.com .

Equalities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that local authorities comply with the requirements of the disability equality duty, with particular regard to providing accessible toilet facilities for people with profound and multiple disabilities, as requested by the Changing Places Consortium.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is for individual local authorities to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the disability equality duties and Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). The DDA 1995 makes it unlawful for goods, facilities and service providers, including local authorities, to discriminate against someone because of their disability, and the service provider must make "reasonable adjustments" to make sure disabled people are not put at a disadvantage and are able to access the goods or services offered. What constitutes a "reasonable adjustment" depends on a number of factors and it is for individual organisations to determine.

  The disability equality duties requires all public authorities (including local authorities) to be pro-active in tackling discrimination against disabled people and to look at ways of promoting equality for disabled people.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what public body is responsible for monitoring and ensuring the implementation of the disability equality duty.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the body responsible for monitoring and enforcing the disability equality general and specific duties. Interested parties may also challenge an organisation’s failure to comply with the general duty by means of a claim to the Court of Session for judicial review.

  Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19744 by Stewart Maxwell on 22 January 2009, when in 2009 the conference on race, referred to in the Scottish Government Race Equality Statement published on 8 December 2008, will take place.

Nicola Sturgeon: Officials are currently in discussions with stakeholders about the most suitable date to hold the conference, which is being planned to take place approximately one year on from the publication of the Race Equality Statement in December 2008.

Fertility Treatment

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for IVF treatment.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the waiting time is for IVF treatment in each NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not routinely collected or held centrally.

  However, as part of the work Infertility Network Scotland will carry out with the government, NHS boards will be asked to provide this information.

Fertility Treatment

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to reduce waiting times for IVF treatment.

Nicola Sturgeon: The work to be undertaken by Infertility Network Scotland on behalf of the government will, we expect, help address the complex and long standing issues around waiting times for IVF treatment.

  Where individual NHS boards have invested in this service, waiting times have reduced in their area.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the waiting time is for IVF treatment in the (a) Greater Glasgow and (b) Clyde areas of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Nicola Sturgeon: The waiting time for IVF treatment in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area is currently 21 months. There is no separate waiting time for each of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde areas.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the upper age limit is for IVF treatment.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Report of the Review of Infertility Services in Scotland , published in 2007, recommends that the upper age limit for IVF treatment should be 39 years inclusive, i.e. the woman should be before her 40th birthday at the time of treatment. In addition, the upper age limit should not apply for replacement of frozen embryos which were created from previous treatments occurring before the patients 40th birthday.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what circumstances are considered as priorities for selection for IVF treatment

Nicola Sturgeon: It is up to individual NHS boards to decide what circumstances are considered as priorities for selection for IVF treatment. For example, within some NHS boards storage of eggs or embryos prior to oncology treatment is considered a priority for selection for IVF treatment.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether patients can seek IVF treatment from NHS boards outwith their area where waiting times are shorter.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for individual NHS boards.

Fisheries

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role Marine Scotland and the Sea Fish Industry Authority have with regard to inshore fishery group co-ordinators and inshore fishery groups.

Richard Lochhead: Inshore fisheries groups aim to improve the management of Scotland’s inshore fisheries and to give commercial inshore fishermen a strong voice in wider marine management developments. They have been established by Scottish ministers on a non-statutory basis to produce a fisheries management plan and propose management measures for their areas for consideration by Scottish ministers.

  Scottish ministers are committed to supporting the operation of pilot inshore fishery groups. Marine Scotland are funding inshore fisheries coordinator posts for each IFG through the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish). The coordinators are responsible for assisting the IFG, through the IFG chair, in the conduct of its business, particularly in the preparation and development of management plans for fisheries in their area. Seafish is responsible for the employment of the local coordinators.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how often ministers are required to review any fishery closures and restrictions and what consultation would normally accompany any such reviews.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in renewing a fishing restriction order, ministers are required to consult and to take into account scientific evidence on the effect of the restrictions.

Richard Lochhead: There is no set approach to fisheries closures and restrictions. Any review which may be undertaken by ministers would be dependent on the nature and purpose of the restrictions in place. The Scottish Government is committed to consultation and as part of any review would consult those on whom the fisheries restrictions may impact and more widely, as appropriate.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend the use of nephrops permits and creel limitation measures.

Richard Lochhead: The use or introduction of nephrops permits is one of a number of issues that will be considered by the Scottish Licensing Review Working Group that has been convened to undertake a root and branch review of all current licensing measures in force. This group first met on 29 June 2009.

  There are no immediate plans to introduce creel limitations. However a sub group of the Scottish Fisheries Council – the Crab and Lobster Strategy Group – is currently discussing the wider issue of potential future effort management in the crab and lobster sector.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are of the work commissioned from the Sea Fish Industry Authority on fleet profitability for the operation of creel fisheries.

Richard Lochhead: The Sea Fish Industry Authority report will be published later this month. The objective of the report is to recommend, following a series of consultation workshops with fishermen across Scotland, the five or six most appropriate interventions to improve the economic sustainability of each Scottish fleet sector.

  The report’s recommendations will be considered by Scottish Government in partnership with the fishing industry over the summer and autumn, through the Scottish Fisheries Council sub groups and the Scottish Licensing Review Working Group. We expect that this process will lead to further initiatives to improve the profitability of all fisheries, including creeling, so that the fishing industry and fishing communities can enjoy sustainable economic growth.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans exist for a review of the fishing restrictions in Loch Hourn and the Inner Sound and what consultations are planned.

Richard Lochhead: Scottish ministers have no plans at present to review the fisheries management measures which are in place in Loch Hourn and the Inner Sound. We expect, however, that inshore fisheries groups will consider existing fisheries restrictions and closures within their areas as part of their management planning processes.

  The relevant inshore fisheries groups (IFGs) for Loch Hourn and the Inner Sound are the Small Isles and Mull IFG and the North West IFG respectively.

  Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have taken place in recent years on any derogation with regard to the use of square mesh panels for boats of certain horsepower and what the reasons are for any such changes.

Richard Lochhead: There have been no changes to the current derogation regarding the use and size of square mesh panels, which allows for vessels with power of less than 112kw to use square mesh panels of 2m instead of 3m. Vessels using square mesh panels and fishing east of the line within ICES Division VIa, commonly known as the French Line, were prevented from making use of this derogation with effect from 1 January 2009 as a result of West of Scotland emergency measures introduced by EC Regulation 43/2009.

  We are pressing the commission to remove this restriction for those low powered vessels operating east of the French Line.

  Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the concerns of west coast nephrops fishermen that it is relying on selective fishing gear, which does not guarantee exemption, rather than deploying adequate observers on their vessels that might allow them to gain exemption from effort restrictions.

Richard Lochhead: The European Commission has been willing to exempt from the effort management regime under the cod recovery plan (CRP), vessels that only use specific fishing gears that allow cod which is present to avoid being caught. Deploying observers to verify low cod abundance is highly unlikely to secure the exemption of nephrops vessels in the absence of such technical measures.

  Although not exempt from the CRP regime, the west coast nephrops fleet has benefited from the arrangements we were able to negotiate last November for vessels catching less than five per cent cod. In 2009, these vessels were eligible for an allocation of 200 days at sea, and over 90 per cent of west coast nephrops vessels qualified. We have no evidence to suggest that these arrangements are preventing the uptake of this year’s nephrops quota.

  In preparation for 2010, we are currently taking forward a work programme of further innovative conservation measures using selective fishing gears. The Scottish fishing industry, including the Clyde Fishermen’s Association, have been closely involved in identifying technical options designed to enable Scottish fishermen to access additional days at sea in future through the voluntary use of such gears.

  Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the continuing concerns of west coast nephrops fishermen about the impact of effort restrictions on their business and the possibility that they face larger cuts via effort restrictions than vessels that target cod as their main catch, whether it plans to seek a renegotiation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1342/2008.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government acknowledges the challenges involved in implementing successfully the new EU cod recovery plan (CRP).

  The CRP does, however, include – as a result of proposals made last year by the Scottish Government – important flexibilities that allow nephrops vessels that catch less than five per cent cod to be allocated more days than the "standard" allocation of days for vessels affected by the effort regime. In 2009, these vessels were eligible for an allocation of 200 days at sea, and over 90 per cent of west coast nephrops vessels qualified. In 2010, the Scottish Government proposes again to fully utilise the flexibility provided for in the CRP to allow vessels with very low cod catches to access additional days at sea.

  The government is also working with the UK Government and the European Commission to assess the economic impact during the current economic downturn of the CRP, as well as the emergency measures imposed at last December’s Fisheries Council on fishing off the west coast of Scotland. We consider that negotiations about fishing opportunities in 2010 should take careful account of the conclusions of this analysis.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a reduction in pregnancies in under 16s from 8.5 per 1,000 in 1995 to 6.8 in 2010 remains its target.

Nicola Sturgeon: Yes, a reduction in pregnancies in under 16s from 8.5 per 1,000 in 1995 to 6.8 in 2010 remains the Scottish Government’s target for teenage pregnancy.

  A number of NHS boards are on track to meet this target. In addition, the Scottish Government is working very closely with health boards and local authorities to ensure that high quality sex and relationships education, information and services are available to young people throughout Scotland.

  The Scottish Government also recognises the strong links between teenage pregnancy and deprivation and is working to address inequality and deprivation in Scotland through strategies such as Equally Well.

  John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how successful the National Child Measurement Programme has been in reducing obesity in children in Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: The National Child Measurement Programme is an English programme and is not run in Scotland.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a Scottish equivalent to the UK Government’s National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease.

Nicola Sturgeon: The equivalent to the English National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease is the Scottish Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Strategy , originally published in 2002. The strategy has been revised and was issued as our Better Heart Disease and Stroke Care Action Plan in June this year.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are national standards for the treatment and management of cardiomyopathy.

Nicola Sturgeon: The draft standards on coronary heart disease, published by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland in February 2009, contain a standard relating to the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmia, of which cardiomyopathy is one of the causes. An essential criterion in the arrhythmia standard is that patients at risk of and diagnosed with hereditary arrhythmias syndromes are referred to the Familial Arrhythmias Network of Scotland (FANS).

  FANS is a national managed clinical network (MCN) which brings together the cardiologists, clinical geneticists and pathologists involved in assessing patients with a proven or suspected familial (inherited) arrhythmia. The MCN aims to raise awareness of familial arrhythmias, define and agree referral protocols and develop national guidance for clinical and genetic testing. The network is currently developing referral guidelines for familial cardiomyopathy and expects to publish these by the end of the year.

  Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the target waiting time is between a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy and contact with a consultant.

Nicola Sturgeon: Our target since 2007 has been that no patient will wait more than 16 weeks for treatment after they have been seen as an outpatient by a heart specialist who has recommended treatment. That target applies to cardiomyopathy. Because of the complexity of the condition, diagnosis is usually provided by a consultant.

  In March 2010, NHS Scotland will introduce a 12 week waiting time target for both outpatient assessment and treatment. NHS Scotland is already achieving this target, and in many cases a patient’s clinical need dictates that they are prioritised and seen even earlier than this 12 week target.

  Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to run a public campaign on the importance of hand washing in light of the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic.

Nicola Sturgeon: At the beginning of the current outbreak of influenza A/H1N1, the Scottish Government ran a public information campaign which included messages on the importance of good hygiene practices in reducing the spread of the virus. We are following up on this work by running a further public information campaign called "catch it, bin it, kill it" which actively promotes good respiratory and hand hygiene practices. This campaign will run throughout the summer months and will include coverage on public transport and in supermarkets. In addition, the Scottish Government is planning to re-run a hand hygiene campaign in schools on their return this week.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have applied to the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot scheme since it was expanded across Scotland in March 2009, broken down by local authority area.

Nicola Sturgeon: Since the launch of the temporary expansion of the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot scheme (OMSEP) on 31 March 2009, as at 31 July 2009 the following number of people have returned a completed application form:

  

Local Authority
Number of Completed Application Forms Returned


Edinburgh and the Lothians, Fife and Scottish Borders


Edinburgh
670


East Lothian
96


Fife
117


Midlothian
80


Scottish Borders
17


West Lothian 
296


Grampian


Aberdeen City
105


Aberdeenshire
38


Moray
3


North


Eilean Siar
3


Highland
94


Orkney
7


Shetland
0


Tayside and Forth Valley


Angus
19


Clackmannanshire
5


Dundee
46


Falkirk
50


Perth and Kinross
35


Stirling
56


West


Argyll and Bute
11


Dumfries and Galloway
41


East Ayrshire
12


East Dunbartonshire
21


East Renfrewshire
12


Glasgow
219


Inverclyde
15


North Ayrshire
20


North Lanarkshire
56


Renfrewshire
18


South Ayrshire
38


South Lanarkshire
55


West Dunbartonshire
22


Total
2,277

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have purchased properties under the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot scheme since March 2009, broken down by local authority area.

Nicola Sturgeon: Since the launch of the temporary expansion of the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot scheme on 31 March 2009, as at 31 July 2009 the following number of people have purchased properties:

  

Local Authority
Number of Purchases


Edinburgh and the Lothians, Fife and Scottish Borders


Edinburgh
94


East Lothian
22


Fife
3


Midlothian
15


Scottish Borders
2


West Lothian 
52


Grampian


Aberdeen City
30


Aberdeenshire
3


Moray
0


North


Eilean Siar
0


Highland
38


Orkney
2


Shetland
0


Tayside and Forth Valley


Angus
0


Clackmannanshire
2


Dundee
0


Falkirk
6


Perth and Kinross
8


Stirling
19


West


Argyll and Bute
1


Dumfries and Galloway
5


East Ayrshire
3


East Dunbartonshire
4


East Renfrewshire
2


Glasgow
12


Inverclyde
5


North Ayrshire
0


North Lanarkshire
5


Renfrewshire
0


South Ayrshire
4


South Lanarkshire
2


West Dunbartonshire
3


Total
342

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people purchased properties under the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot scheme prior to March 2009, broken down by local authority area.

Nicola Sturgeon: Prior to 31 March 2009 the following number of people purchased properties under the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot scheme:

  

Local Authority
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
Total


Aberdeenshire
0
0
0
4
4


City of Aberdeen
0
0
0
14
14


City of Edinburgh
45
372
415
213
1,045


East Lothian
3
70
74
53
200


Highland
0
0
0
19
19


Midlothian
0
45
62
34
141


Moray
0
0
0
1
1


Perth and Kinross
0
0
0
3
3


Stirling
0
0
0
4
4


West Lothian
1
36
89
127
253


Total
49
523
640
472
1,684



  The original Homestake Open Market Pilot scheme established in 2005 only operated within Edinburgh and the Lothians. This scheme was replaced by the Open Market Shared Equity pilot scheme and expanded to a total of ten local authority areas following the launch of the Low-cost Initiative for First-Time Buyers (LIFT) in October 2007.

  Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people received housing support in 2008-09.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally.

  Statistics were previously collected on the number of people receiving a housing support service funded through the Supporting People programme. Following the end of ring fencing of the Supporting People budget in April 2008, the Scottish Government consulted with a wide range of stakeholders on whether to continue to gather information on numbers receiving housing support.

  Details of the outcome of the consultation have been published on the Scottish Government’s website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/SurveySupportingPeople.

  Planned changes to data collection on housing support services to bring this better into line with the annual home care census were agreed by the Housing Support Forum at its meeting on 23 June, and a short-life working group is being established to take this forward.

  Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake a review similar to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report into social housing allocation and immigrant communities in order to dispel negative perceptions with regard to asylum seekers and social housing allotment.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government will continue to celebrate diversity and challenge negative racist attitudes through its One Scotland campaign, but currently has no plans to undertake research into social housing allocations and immigrant communities. A recently published report, Recent Migration into Scotland: The Evidence Base , found that migrants, particularly those from the eight Central and Eastern European countries that joined the European Union in May 2004 (A8 nationals), are largely housed in the private rented sector. The report is available on the Scottish Government’s website at the following link:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/23154109/0.

Justice

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many successful prosecutions there have been in Dundee under the Prostitution (Public Places) Scotland Act 2007.

Frank Mulholland: Of the 17 charges in which a decision to prosecute in court has been taken by the procurator fiscal at Dundee since 2007, 10 have resulted in a conviction, five are ongoing and two have resulted in a decision to take no further action.

  Notes:

  1. The information for this question has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a procurator fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

  3. The information is correct as at 6 August 2009.

Less Favoured Areas

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what calculations backed up the assurances of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment on 10 June 2009 ( Official Report c. 18164) that the announced levels of Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) 2010 funding were secure despite possible fluctuations in the value of the pound against the euro.

Richard Lochhead: A total exchange rate gain of €33 million euro has been estimated as a result of the £/€ exchange rate depreciation from the rate as originally assumed for the SRDP. €14 million of those gains have been realised through drawing fewer euros for the LFASS scheme years of 2007 and 2008 and €19 million are estimated to be available from the remaining programming period until 2013.

  The estimated net cost of the LFASS changes are €25 million euro from 2009-13 (that is having taken account of underspends and the proposed effects of rebaselining). Actual cost will depend on the level of uptake. There are therefore currently estimated to be more than sufficient gains from exchange rate movements to cover additional costs.

Maternity Services

Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many live babies have been born in each deprivation quintile in each year since 2001, broken down by NHS board and also expressed as a percentage of all births in that area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The requested information is shown in the following table for financial years 2001-02 to 2006-07.

  Live Births1, 2, 3 (Number and Percentage of All Births) by NHS Board of Residence and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile4; Financial years 2001-02 to 2006-07

  

 
 
 
2001-02


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total5


Number of Live Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
9,523
9,061
9,181
10,028
12,628
50,597


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
497
446
497
1,091
1,057
3,588


NHS Borders
136
419
291
103
79
1,028


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
85
295
409
253
153
1,195


NHS Fife
549
681
714
708
849
3,501


NHS Forth Valley
490
550
460
723
520
2,743


NHS Grampian
1,618
1,221
1,083
637
468
5,027


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
2,172
1,513
1,527
2,020
5,144
12,376


NHS Highland
215
643
952
572
326
2,708


NHS Lanarkshire
702
748
1,195
1,476
1,778
5,899


NHS Lothian
2,505
1,421
1,194
1,533
1,349
8,002


NHS Orkney
11
64
68
6
x
149


NHS Shetland
11
59
118
42
x
230


NHS Tayside
532
1,001
601
726
905
3,765


NHS Western Isles
x
x
72
138
x
210


Percentage of All Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
18.8
17.9
18.1
19.8
25.0
100.0


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
13.9
12.4
13.9
30.4
29.5
100.0


NHS Borders
13.2
40.8
28.3
10.0
7.7
100.0


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
7.1
24.7
34.2
21.2
12.8
100.0


NHS Fife
15.7
19.5
20.4
20.2
24.3
100.0


NHS Forth Valley
17.9
20.1
16.8
26.4
19.0
100.0


NHS Grampian
32.2
24.3
21.5
12.7
9.3
100.0


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
17.6
12.2
12.3
16.3
41.6
100.0


NHS Highland
7.9
23.7
35.2
21.1
12.0
100.0


NHS Lanarkshire
11.9
12.7
20.3
25.0
30.1
100.0


NHS Lothian
31.3
17.8
14.9
19.2
16.9
100.0


NHS Orkney
7.4
43.0
45.6
4.0
x
100.0


NHS Shetland
4.8
25.7
51.3
18.3
x
100.0


NHS Tayside
14.1
26.6
16.0
19.3
24.0
100.0


NHS Western Isles
x
x
34.3
65.7
x
100.0



  

 
 
 
2002-03


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total5


Number of Live Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
9,698
9,105
9,228
10,005
12,507
50,759


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
497
419
482
1,024
1,011
3,433


NHS Borders
123
381
304
99
61
968


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
105
302
468
259
174
1,308


NHS Fife
542
722
691
694
834
3,483


NHS Forth Valley
506
587
473
733
518
2,817


NHS Grampian
1,749
1,268
1,123
691
449
5,280


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
2,127
1,505
1,508
2,050
5,212
12,402


NHS Highland
218
623
928
545
350
2,664


NHS Lanarkshire
725
747
1,244
1,512
1,692
5,920


NHS Lothian
2,503
1,428
1,184
1,544
1,274
7,934


NHS Orkney
15
64
83
3
x
165


NHS Shetland
12
60
117
30
x
219


NHS Tayside
576
999
535
668
932
3,710


NHS Western Isles
x
x
88
153
x
241


Percentage of All Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
19.1
17.9
18.2
19.7
24.6
100.0


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
14.5
12.2
14.0
29.8
29.4
100.0


NHS Borders
12.7
39.4
31.4
10.2
6.3
100.0


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
8.0
23.1
35.8
19.8
13.3
100.0


NHS Fife
15.6
20.7
19.8
19.9
23.9
100.0


NHS Forth Valley
18.0
20.8
16.8
26.0
18.4
100.0


NHS Grampian
33.1
24.0
21.3
13.1
8.5
100.0


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
17.2
12.1
12.2
16.5
42.0
100.0


NHS Highland
8.2
23.4
34.8
20.5
13.1
100.0


NHS Lanarkshire
12.2
12.6
21.0
25.5
28.6
100.0


NHS Lothian
31.5
18.0
14.9
19.5
16.1
100.0


NHS Orkney
9.1
38.8
50.3
1.8
x
100.0


NHS Shetland
5.5
27.4
53.4
13.7
x
100.0


NHS Tayside
15.5
26.9
14.4
18.0
25.1
100.0


NHS Western Isles
x
x
36.5
63.5
x
100.0



  

 
 
 
2003-04


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total5


Number of Live Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
9,720
9,712
9,642
10,343
12,858
52,438


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
514
485
521
1,089
1,000
3,609


NHS Borders
130
372
298
107
77
984


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
83
299
508
255
171
1,316


NHS Fife
620
693
705
771
831
3,620


NHS Forth Valley
537
644
520
751
519
2,971


NHS Grampian
1,598
1,358
1,070
654
459
5,139


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
2,159
1,655
1,621
2,028
5,368
12,831


NHS Highland
216
648
1,011
583
344
2,802


NHS Lanarkshire
714
738
1,294
1,547
1,723
6,016


NHS Lothian
2,538
1,569
1,230
1,665
1,361
8,363


NHS Orkney
16
53
80
7
x
156


NHS Shetland
11
73
112
32
x
228


NHS Tayside
584
1,125
574
709
1,005
3,997


NHS Western Isles
x
x
98
145
x
243


Percentage of All Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
18.5
18.5
18.4
19.7
24.5
100.0


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
14.2
13.4
14.4
30.2
27.7
100.0


NHS Borders
13.2
37.8
30.3
10.9
7.8
100.0


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
6.3
22.7
38.6
19.4
13.0
100.0


NHS Fife
17.1
19.1
19.5
21.3
23.0
100.0


NHS Forth Valley
18.1
21.7
17.5
25.3
17.5
100.0


NHS Grampian
31.1
26.4
20.8
12.7
8.9
100.0


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
16.8
12.9
12.6
15.8
41.8
100.0


NHS Highland
7.7
23.1
36.1
20.8
12.3
100.0


NHS Lanarkshire
11.9
12.3
21.5
25.7
28.6
100.0


NHS Lothian
30.3
18.8
14.7
19.9
16.3
100.0


NHS Orkney
10.3
34.0
51.3
4.5
x
100.0


NHS Shetland
4.8
32.0
49.1
14.0
x
100.0


NHS Tayside
14.6
28.1
14.4
17.7
25.1
100.0


NHS Western Isles
x
x
40.3
59.7
x
100.0



  

 
 
 
2004-05


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total5


Number of Live Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
9,708
9,718
9,802
10,597
12,984
53,119


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
486
523
521
1,062
1,050
3,642


NHS Borders
131
437
284
123
53
1,028


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
110
286
514
280
193
1,383


NHS Fife
619
686
818
748
855
3,726


NHS Forth Valley
558
674
591
778
523
3,124


NHS Grampian
1,697
1,363
1,114
705
440
5,319


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
2,138
1,666
1,615
2,208
5,483
13,110


NHS Highland
255
668
993
572
333
2,821


NHS Lanarkshire
681
775
1,348
1,568
1,786
6,158


NHS Lothian
2,467
1,550
1,161
1,690
1,398
8,266


NHS Orkney
19
66
87
10
x
182


NHS Shetland
18
56
127
30
x
231


NHS Tayside
529
968
557
675
870
3,599


NHS Western Isles
x
x
72
148
x
220


Percentage of All Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
18.3
18.3
18.5
19.9
24.4
100.0


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
13.3
14.4
14.3
29.2
28.8
100.0


NHS Borders
12.7
42.5
27.6
12.0
5.2
100.0


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
8.0
20.7
37.2
20.2
14.0
100.0


NHS Fife
16.6
18.4
22.0
20.1
22.9
100.0


NHS Forth Valley
17.9
21.6
18.9
24.9
16.7
100.0


NHS Grampian
31.9
25.6
20.9
13.3
8.3
100.0


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
16.3
12.7
12.3
16.8
41.8
100.0


NHS Highland
9.0
23.7
35.2
20.3
11.8
100.0


NHS Lanarkshire
11.1
12.6
21.9
25.5
29.0
100.0


NHS Lothian
29.8
18.8
14.0
20.4
16.9
100.0


NHS Orkney
10.4
36.3
47.8
5.5
x
100.0


NHS Shetland
7.8
24.2
55.0
13.0
x
100.0


NHS Tayside
14.7
26.9
15.5
18.8
24.2
100.0


NHS Western Isles
x
x
32.7
67.3
x
100.0



  

 
 
 
2005-06


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total5


Number of Live Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
9,217
9,700
9,774
10,525
13,296
52,754


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
460
487
501
1,120
1,071
3,639


NHS Borders
118
400
279
96
75
968


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
69
312
521
252
230
1,384


NHS Fife
633
684
815
761
843
3,736


NHS Forth Valley
565
662
561
783
565
3,136


NHS Grampian
1,625
1,422
1,150
696
478
5,371


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1,975
1,535
1,531
2,252
5,573
12,866


NHS Highland
226
664
1,051
521
379
2,841


NHS Lanarkshire
639
760
1,270
1,490
1,683
5,842


NHS Lothian
2,410
1,607
1,247
1,723
1,459
8,446


NHS Orkney
13
59
99
10
x
181


NHS Shetland
13
67
116
28
x
224


NHS Tayside
470
1,041
552
654
940
3,657


NHS Western Isles
x
x
81
139
x
220


Percentage of All Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
17.5
18.4
18.5
20.0
25.2
100.0


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
12.6
13.4
13.8
30.8
29.4
100.0


NHS Borders
12.2
41.3
28.8
9.9
7.7
100.0


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
5.0
22.5
37.6
18.2
16.6
100.0


NHS Fife
16.9
18.3
21.8
20.4
22.6
100.0


NHS Forth Valley
18.0
21.1
17.9
25.0
18.0
100.0


NHS Grampian
30.3
26.5
21.4
13.0
8.9
100.0


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
15.4
11.9
11.9
17.5
43.3
100.0


NHS Highland
8.0
23.4
37.0
18.3
13.3
100.0


NHS Lanarkshire
10.9
13.0
21.7
25.5
28.8
100.0


NHS Lothian
28.5
19.0
14.8
20.4
17.3
100.0


NHS Orkney
7.2
32.6
54.7
5.5
x
100.0


NHS Shetland
5.8
29.9
51.8
12.5
x
100.0


NHS Tayside
12.9
28.5
15.1
17.9
25.7
100.0


NHS Western Isles
x
x
36.8
63.2
x
100.0



  

 
 
 
2006-07


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total5


Number of Live Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
9,402
10,007
10,217
11,185
13,484
54,594


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
434
543
540
1,184
1,101
3,804


NHS Borders
110
457
304
124
58
1,053


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
89
334
538
298
194
1,454


NHS Fife
664
698
801
810
884
3,864


NHS Forth Valley
551
647
592
840
580
3,210


NHS Grampian
1,736
1,602
1,220
750
533
5,841


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1,913
1,594
1,634
2,279
5,632
13,061


NHS Highland
256
703
948
525
331
2,766


NHS Lanarkshire
618
718
1,443
1,673
1,844
6,296


NHS Lothian
2,541
1,602
1,302
1,820
1,424
8,693


NHS Orkney
24
88
89
3
x
204


NHS Shetland
14
79
133
39
x
265


NHS Tayside
452
942
567
668
903
3,533


NHS Western Isles
x
x
106
172
x
278


Percentage of All Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
17.2
18.3
18.7
20.5
24.7
100.0


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
11.4
14.3
14.2
31.1
28.9
100.0


NHS Borders
10.4
43.4
28.9
11.8
5.5
100.0


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
6.1
23.0
37.0
20.5
13.3
100.0


NHS Fife
17.2
18.1
20.7
21.0
22.9
100.0


NHS Forth Valley
17.2
20.2
18.4
26.2
18.1
100.0


NHS Grampian
29.7
27.4
20.9
12.8
9.1
100.0


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
14.6
12.2
12.5
17.4
43.1
100.0


NHS Highland
9.3
25.4
34.3
19.0
12.0
100.0


NHS Lanarkshire
9.8
11.4
22.9
26.6
29.3
100.0


NHS Lothian
29.2
18.4
15.0
20.9
16.4
100.0


NHS Orkney
11.8
43.1
43.6
1.5
x
100.0


NHS Shetland
5.3
29.8
50.2
14.7
x
100.0


NHS Tayside
12.8
26.7
16.0
18.9
25.6
100.0


NHS Western Isles
x
x
38.1
61.9
x
100.0



  Source: SMR02, ISD Scotland, Ref: IR2009-01808.

  Notes:

  x Not applicable

  1. These data are derived from the SMR02 (maternity hospital discharge summary). It is estimated that an SMR02 has not been submitted for approximately 2% of births in Scotland.

  2. Excludes home births and births at non-NHS hospitals.

  3. Where four or more babies are involved in a pregnancy, birth details are recorded only for the first three babies delivered.

  4. Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. 1 = Least Deprived, 5 = Most Deprived. The SIMD has six domains (income, employment, education, housing, health and geographical access) at datazone level, which have been combined into an overall index.

  5. It has not been possible to derive a SIMD quintile for a small number of cases, due to missing/invalid postcodes. These cases have been included in the totals. Therefore the percentages may not sum to 100%.

  6. Includes births where NHS board of residence is unknown or outside Scotland.

  Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many stillborn babies have been delivered in each deprivation quintile in each year since 2001, broken down by NHS board and also expressed as a percentage of all births in that area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table shows stillbirth number and rates, by NHS board and deprivation quintile, for calendar years 2001 to 2007. It has been necessary to group individual years’ data into five year rolling aggregates due to the variation in numbers from year to year and also the small numbers involved.

  Stillbirths1 (number and rates of all births2) by NHS Board of Residence and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile3; by Five Year Rolling Aggregates 2001-05 to 2003-07

  

 
2001-2005


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total4


Number of Stillbirths
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland5
199
216
250
346
458
1484


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
9
13
20
31
26
99


NHS Borders
*
5
8
*
-
19


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
*
5
11
6
6
31


NHS Fife
10
14
19
28
23
94


NHS Forth Valley
12
12
17
26
16
83


NHS Grampian
23
34
30
27
17
131


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
49
41
47
78
225
440


NHS Highland
6
16
22
16
10
70


Islands6
*
5
5
7
-
18


NHS Lanarkshire
14
17
39
49
60
179


NHS Lothian
60
35
19
57
51
222


NHS Tayside
9
19
13
18
24
83


Rate per 1,000 Total Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland5
4.1
4.6
5.2
6.7
7.1
5.7


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
3.6
5.5
7.9
5.7
5.0
5.5


NHS Borders
*
2.5
5.5
*
-
3.8


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
*
3.3
4.5
4.6
6.5
4.7


NHS Fife
3.4
4.0
5.1
7.6
5.4
5.2


NHS Forth Valley
4.5
3.9
6.5
6.9
6.0
5.6


NHS Grampian
2.8
5.1
5.4
7.9
7.3
5.0


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
4.6
5.2
6.0
7.4
8.4
6.9


NHS Highland
5.3
4.9
4.4
5.6
5.7
5.0


Islands6
*
8.1
3.5
7.5
-
5.8


NHS Lanarkshire
4.0
4.5
6.1
6.4
6.9
6.0


NHS Lothian
4.8
4.6
3.2
7.0
7.4
5.4


NHS Tayside
3.3
3.7
4.5
5.2
5.1
4.4



  

 
2002-2006


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total4


Number of Stillbirths
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland5
199
220
261
340
444
1479


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
9
10
22
28
26
95


NHS Borders
*
6
10
*
-
21


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
*
5
8
*
6
26


NHS Fife
11
12
24
33
20
100


NHS Forth Valley
12
11
19
29
16
87


NHS Grampian
21
29
34
25
20
129


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
51
48
46
73
210
428


NHS Highland
6
18
23
14
10
71


Islands6
*
*
7
6
-
16


NHS Lanarkshire
15
16
34
48
66
179


NHS Lothian
60
40
22
54
50
226


NHS Tayside
8
23
12
23
20
86


Rate per 1,000 Total Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland5
4.2
4.6
5.4
6.5
6.8
5.6


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
3.7
4.1
8.6
5.1
5.0
5.2


NHS Borders
*
3.0
6.8
*
-
4.2


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
*
3.3
3.1
*
6.2
3.8


NHS Fife
3.6
3.5
6.2
8.7
4.7
5.4


NHS Forth Valley
4.4
3.5
7.0
7.5
6.0
5.7


NHS Grampian
2.5
4.2
6.0
7.2
8.4
4.8


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
4.9
6.0
5.8
6.8
7.7
6.6


NHS Highland
5.2
5.4
4.7
5.0
5.7
5.1


Islands6
*
*
4.7
6.3
-
4.9


NHS Lanarkshire
4.4
4.3
5.2
6.2
7.5
5.9


NHS Lothian
4.8
5.2
3.6
6.4
7.3
5.4


NHS Tayside
3.1
4.5
4.3
6.9
4.3
4.6



  

 
2003-2007


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total4


Number of Stillbirths
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland5
202
226
260
359
468
1,528


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
12
12
20
28
31
103


NHS Borders
*
6
9
*
-
20


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
*
*
10
5
5
26


NHS Fife
9
13
24
34
24
104


NHS Forth Valley
11
11
20
32
18
92


NHS Grampian
27
28
34
25
21
135


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
52
49
48
76
214
439


NHS Highland
7
19
17
19
10
72


Islands6
*
*
7
6
-
16


NHS Lanarkshire
14
19
34
45
70
182


NHS Lothian
54
44
21
60
55
234


NHS Tayside
11
19
16
26
20
92


Rate per 1,000 Total Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland5
4.3
4.6
5.2
6.7
7.1
5.7


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
5.0
4.7
7.6
5.0
5.8
5.6


NHS Borders
*
2.8
6.1
5.2
-
3.9


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
*
*
3.9
*
5.2
3.7


NHS Fife
2.8
3.8
6.0
8.7
5.5
5.5


NHS Forth Valley
4.0
3.3
6.9
8.0
6.5
5.8


NHS Grampian
3.2
3.9
5.8
6.9
8.4
4.9


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
5.1
6.2
6.0
6.9
7.7
6.8


NHS Highland
5.9
5.7
3.4
6.8
5.8
5.1


Islands6
*
*
4.6
6.2
-
4.8


NHS Lanarkshire
4.3
5.0
5.1
5.7
7.9
6.0


NHS Lothian
4.3
5.5
3.3
6.8
7.7
5.4


NHS Tayside
4.5
3.9
5.9
8.0
4.5
5.2



  Source: SSBID, SMR02, ISD Scotland, Ref: IR2009-01809 (S3W-26097).

  Notes:

  *Indicates values that have been suppressed due to the potential risk of disclosure.

  1. A baby delivered with no signs of life after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy.

  2. Where four or more babies are involved in a pregnancy, birth details are recorded only for the first three babies delivered.

  3. Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. 1 = Least Deprived, 5 = Most Deprived. The SIMD has six domains (income, employment, education, housing, health and geographical access) at datazone level, which have been combined into an overall index.

  4. It has not been possible to derive a SIMD quintile for a small number of cases, due to missing/invalid postcode. These cases have been included in the totals.

  5. Includes births where NHS board of residence is unknown or outside Scotland.

  6. Includes Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles NHS board areas.

  Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many live, single, full-term babies with a birth weight of under 2.5 kg have been born in each deprivation quintile in each year since 2001, broken down by NHS board and also expressed as a percentage of all births in that area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table shows the information requested for financial years 2000-01 to 2006-07. It has been necessary to group individual years’ data into three-year rolling aggregates due to the small numbers involved.

  Live, single, full-term births1, 2, 3 with birth weight less than 2.5kg (number and percentage of all births) by NHS board of residence and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile4; by three-year rolling aggregates 2001-02 - 2003-04 to 2004-05 – 2006-07:

  

 
2001-02 – 2003-04


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total5


Number of Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
393
425
550
770
1,335
3,489


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
22
13
22
59
95
211


NHS Borders
*
24
12
8
*
63


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
6
6
23
16
19
70


NHS Fife
30
26
33
60
73
222


NHS Forth Valley 
18
22
33
49
55
177


NHS Grampian
69
70
78
39
57
313


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
87
78
112
175
609
1,061


NHS Highland
18
22
57
41
34
172


NHS Lanarkshire
26
39
72
124
154
415


NHS Lothian
92
81
68
136
135
512


NHS Tayside
16
39
29
54
92
230


Islands7
*
5
11
9
*
27


Percentage of All Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
1.4
1.5
2
2.5
3.5
2.3


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
1.5
1
1.5
1.8
3.1
2


NHS Borders
*
2
1.3
2.6
*
2.1


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
2.2
0.7
1.6
2.1
3.8
1.8


NHS Fife
1.7
1.2
1.6
2.7
2.9
2.1


NHS Forth Valley 
1.2
1.2
2.3
2.2
3.5
2.1


NHS Grampian
1.4
1.8
2.4
2
4.1
2


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1.3
1.7
2.4
2.9
3.8
2.8


NHS Highland
2.8
1.1
2
2.4
3.3
2.1


NHS Lanarkshire
1.2
1.7
1.9
2.7
2.9
2.3


NHS Lothian
1.2
1.8
1.9
2.8
3.4
2.1


NHS Tayside
0.9
1.2
1.7
2.5
3.2
2


Islands7
*
1.3
1.3
1.6
*
1.5



  

 
2002-03 to 2004-05


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total5


Number of Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
386
432
587
765
1,299
3,481


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
16
13
22
53
84
188


NHS Borders
9
25
14
8
*
64


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
*
*
25
13
16
69


NHS Fife
33
30
49
59
84
255


NHS Forth Valley 
17
34
35
54
50
190


NHS Grampian
70
57
72
46
54
299


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
82
82
108
181
603
1,056


NHS Highland
16
30
67
40
39
192


NHS Lanarkshire
25
26
74
125
155
405


NHS Lothian
90
81
80
126
129
506


NHS Tayside
19
44
27
51
77
218


Islands7
*
*
14
9
*
27


Percentage of All Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
1.3
1.5
2
2.5
3.4
2.2


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
1.1
0.9
1.4
1.7
2.7
1.8


NHS Borders
2.3
2.1
1.6
2.4
*
2.1


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
*
*
1.7
1.6
3
1.7


NHS Fife
1.8
1.4
2.2
2.7
3.3
2.3


NHS Forth Valley 
1.1
1.8
2.2
2.4
3.2
2.1


NHS Grampian
1.4
1.4
2.2
2.2
4
1.9


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1.3
1.7
2.3
2.9
3.7
2.7


NHS Highland
2.3
1.5
2.3
2.3
3.8
2.3


NHS Lanarkshire
1.2
1.1
1.9
2.7
3
2.2


NHS Lothian
1.2
1.8
2.2
2.6
3.2
2


NHS Tayside
1.1
1.4
1.6
2.5
2.7
1.9


Islands7
*
*
1.6
1.6
*
1.4



  

 
2003-04 – 2005-06


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total5


Number of Births 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
371
461
610
795
1,346
3,593


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
11
19
27
60
77
194


NHS Borders
11
25
15
11
*
67


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
*
*
33
16
18
80


NHS Fife
25
28
56
62
93
264


NHS Forth Valley 
24
43
39
64
52
222


NHS Grampian
61
63
78
59
59
320


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
87
92
106
180
626
1,091


NHS Highland
12
28
65
35
40
180


NHS Lanarkshire
19
29
72
114
156
390


NHS Lothian
94
77
81
130
143
525


NHS Tayside
23
46
22
58
77
226


Islands7
*
*
16
6
*
24


Percentage of All Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
1.3
1.6
2.1
2.5
3.4
2.3


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
0.8
1.3
1.7
1.8
2.5
1.8


NHS Borders
2.9
2.1
1.7
3.3
*
2.2


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
*
*
2.1
2
3
2


NHS Fife
1.3
1.4
2.4
2.7
3.7
2.4


NHS Forth Valley 
1.4
2.2
2.3
2.7
3.2
2.4


NHS Grampian
1.2
1.5
2.3
2.9
4.2
2


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1.4
1.9
2.2
2.8
3.8
2.8


NHS Highland
1.7
1.4
2.1
2.1
3.8
2.1


NHS Lanarkshire
0.9
1.3
1.8
2.5
3
2.2


NHS Lothian
1.3
1.6
2.2
2.5
3.4
2.1


NHS Tayside
1.4
1.5
1.3
2.8
2.7
2


Islands7
*
*
1.8
1.1
*
1.3



  

 
2004-05 – 2006-07


Deprivation Quintile


SIMD 1
SIMD 2
SIMD 3
SIMD 4
SIMD 5
Total5


Number of Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
353
445
588
830
1,315
3,543


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
9
21
24
68
82
204


NHS Borders
12
20
13
15
*
65


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
*
*
31
15
19
79


NHS Fife
15
28
62
65
93
263


NHS Forth Valley 
25
37
39
59
52
212


NHS Grampian
63
60
74
64
48
309


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
85
84
98
192
593
1,052


NHS Highland
8
34
57
31
36
166


NHS Lanarkshire
15
33
69
117
169
403


NHS Lothian
93
68
86
145
144
536


NHS Tayside
25
48
21
52
74
220


Islands7
*
*
14
7
*
22


Percentage of All Births
 
 
 
 
 
 


Scotland6
1.2
1.5
2
2.6
3.3
2.2


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
0.6
1.3
1.5
2
2.5
1.8


NHS Borders
3.3
1.5
1.5
4.4
*
2.1


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
*
*
2
1.8
3.1
1.9


NHS Fife
0.8
1.4
2.5
2.8
3.6
2.3


NHS Forth Valley 
1.5
1.9
2.2
2.4
3.1
2.2


NHS Grampian
1.2
1.4
2.1
3
3.3
1.9


NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
1.4
1.7
2
2.8
3.5
2.7


NHS Highland
1.1
1.7
1.9
1.9
3.4
2


NHS Lanarkshire
0.8
1.5
1.7
2.5
3.2
2.2


NHS Lothian
1.2
1.4
2.3
2.8
3.3
2.1


NHS Tayside
1.7
1.6
1.2
2.6
2.7
2


Islands7
*
*
1.5
1.2
*
1.1



  Source: SMR02, ISD Scotland, Ref: IR2009-01811 (PQ S3W-26099).

  Notes:

  *Indicates values that have been suppressed due to the potential risk of disclosure.

  1. These data are derived from the SMR02 (maternity hospital discharge summary). It is estimated that an SMR02 has not been submitted for approximately 2% of births in Scotland.

  2. Excludes home births and births at non-NHS hospitals.

  3. Where four or more babies are involved in a pregnancy, birth details are recorded only for the first three babies delivered.

  4. Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. 1 = Least Deprived, 5 = Most Deprived. The SIMD has six domains (income, employment, education, housing, health and geographical access) at datazone level, which have been combined into an overall index.

  5. It has not been possible to derive a SIMD quintile for a small number of cases, due to missing/invalid postcodes. These cases have been included in the totals.

  6. Includes births where NHS board of residence is unknown or outside Scotland.

  7. Includes Orkney, Shetland and Western Isles NHS board areas.

  Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of babies in each deprivation quintile were discharged in each year since 2001 with a diagnosis of foetal alcohol syndrome, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: National data on babies born with congenital anomalies are collected centrally in Scotland using a range of administrative NHS and GRO databases. Data are published routinely on a number of individual anomalies such as Neural Tube Defects and Down’s syndrome, with recording considered to be sufficiently robust for reporting statistics comparable to those produced by other UK and European Congenital Anomaly Registries.

  Foetal alcohol syndrome, although recorded as a condition on the central databases, does not form a category that is routinely reported in Scotland. There will be an unknown level of under-reporting on the current system as, although foetal alcohol syndrome is present at birth, it may not be ascertained until later and may not be recorded unless the baby requires admission to hospital subsequent to the birth episode.

  Available information on singleton babies born in Scotland with foetal alcohol syndrome for the years 2001 to 2006 (most recent available) is shown in the following table. It has not been possible to provide a breakdown by deprivation quintile and NHS board due to the very small numbers. Further background information is also attached.

  Singletons Born in Scotland and Detected1,2,3 with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome4,5 at Birth or During Infancy: Numbers and Rates per 1,000 Births by Year of Birth: 2001-06

  

 
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006P


Number
5
4
2
10
3
5


Rate per 1,000
0.09
0.07
0.03
0.17
0.05
0.09



  Source: Linked Maternity Catalog and SMR Linked Catalog, Ref: IR2009-01815 (data produced October 2008).

  P. The data for 2006 should be considered provisional at this time.

  Notes:

  1. The information given relates to each year of birth ending 31 December, and is based on babies born between January 1997 and December 2005.

  2. Anomalies have been located from the diagnostic summaries contained within the linked source data comprising profiles of neonatal and inpatient hospital discharge records, stillbirth notifications and death registrations.

  3. All infants followed up from birth for a period of one year to allow detection of anomalies from hospital inpatient records or General Register Office death registrations.

  4. Using diagnosis code Q86.0 from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems – Tenth Revision (ICD-10)

  Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive at what points in a child’s development foetal alcohol syndrome may be diagnosed and what the statistics are for each such point in each deprivation quintile in each year since 2001, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The research base for diagnosing foetal alcohol syndrome is still being developed but current evidence indicated a number of different points in a child’s development at which foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can be diagnosed, up to the age of 12. Although FAS diagnosis can be made at birth, it can be easily missed if the clinical team is not alerted to look out for the diagnosis of alcohol exposed pregnancies.

  National data on babies born with congenital anomalies are collected centrally in Scotland using a range of administrative NHS and GRO databases. Data are published routinely on a number of individual anomalies such as Neural Tube Defects and Down’s syndrome, with recording considered to be sufficiently robust for reporting statistics comparable to those produced by other UK and European Congenital Anomaly Registries.

  Foetal alcohol syndrome, although recorded as a condition on the central databases, does not form a category that is routinely reported in Scotland. There will be an unknown level of under-reporting on the current system as, although foetal alcohol syndrome is present at birth, it may not be ascertained until later and may not be recorded unless the baby requires admission to hospital subsequent to the birth episode.

  Available information on singleton babies born in Scotland with foetal alcohol syndrome for the years 2001 to 2006 (most recent available) is shown in the following table. It has not been possible to provide a breakdown by deprivation quintile and NHS board due to the very small numbers. Further background information is also attached.

  Singletons born in Scotland and detected1,2,3 with foetal alcohol syndrome4,5 at birth or during infancy: numbers and rates per 1,000 births by year of birth: 2001-06

  

 
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006p


Number
5
4
2
10
3
5


Rate per 1000
0.09
0.07
0.03
0.17
0.05
0.09



  Source: Linked Maternity Catalog and SMR Linked Catalog. Ref: IR2009-01815 (data produced October 2008).

  Notes:

  1. The information given relates to each year of birth ending 31 December and is based on babies born between January 1997 and December 2005.

  The data for 2006 should be considered provisional at this time.

  2. Anomalies have been located from the diagnostic summaries contained within the linked source data comprising profiles of neonatal and inpatient hospital discharge records, stillbirth notifications and death registrations.

  3. All infants followed up from birth for a period of one year to allow detection of anomalies from hospital inpatient records or General Register Office death registrations.

  4. Using diagnosis code Q86.0 from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems – Tenth Revision (ICD-10).

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many beds are available for female patients requiring medium secure unit facilities in each unit in Scotland and the planned unit at Murray Royal Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: The number of women requiring medium secure facilities is much smaller than that for men. Accordingly, the national plan for medium secure services for women is to have twelve places available in Scotland.

  Current provision includes six dedicated places at Rowanbank Clinic in Glasgow, whilst the Orchard Clinic in Edinburgh offers flexibility to accommodate six women. In the context of NHS Lothian’s Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy, the Orchard Clinic is further exploring the possibility of developing a dedicated female facility.

  The new medium secure unit planned at Murray Royal Hospital in Perth will not have any dedicated female spaces; however, those women who require levels of medium secure care will be managed within the wider estate in Scotland. The Forensic Network Health Inter-Regional Planning Group is also currently leading discussions on Scotland-wide provision of medium secure services for women.

  The Scottish Government continues to work with NHS boards, Regional Planning Groups and the Forensic Network to plan and provide appropriate medium secure services within the framework set out in Health Department Letter (2006) 48.

NHS Funding

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of providing general medical services in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08, broken down by contract type.

Nicola Sturgeon: The cost of providing general medical services in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08, broken down by contract type was as follows:

  

Contract Type
2006-07 (£m)
2007-08 (£m)


Section 17J
588
595


Section 17C
75
75


Board provision
25
29


Total
688
699

NHS Staff

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide audit results for compliance with hand hygiene opportunities for each NHS staff group, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) publish national hand hygiene compliance audit reports that detail national compliance results for each NHS staff group. These reports are available at:

  http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/infection-control/national-hand-hygiene-campaign/audit-report-2009-07-08.pdf.

  HPS advise that the sample size within each NHS board is not large enough to provide statistically valid estimates for each of the four staff groups at a local level. Instead, board level data collected by HPS is used to inform and target improvement activity, where appropriate.

  Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees in each NHS board were awaiting resolution of Agenda for Change pay rates as at 1 July 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: Our records show that as at 1 July 2009, there were 22 staff still to assimilate around the country. However, it may be more helpful if I provide information based on the most recent available data which is from 31 July 2009. This shows that, barring those staff designated as having "special circumstances" such as long-term sick leave or maternity leave, there are now no staff waiting to be moved to the Agenda for Change pay system in NHSScotland.

  The Agenda for Change assimilation process gives staff the right to request a review of their pay banding if they believe it to be too low and boards around the country are currently conducting these reviews. Successful reviews will result in an ongoing strand of pay resolution until the review process is complete. Most reviews should be complete by the end of the year, however.

NHS Waiting Times

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for adults and children with a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy to see a consultant in (a) Scotland, (b) NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and (c) the Clyde division of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally.

Police

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed by the Scottish Police Services Authority.

Kenny MacAskill: There were 907 full-time equivalent staff employed by the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) at 31 March 2008. In addition, there were 329 full-time equivalent police officers on secondment to SPSA. These figures include staff at the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and are included in the SPSA annual report and accounts for 2007-08.

  Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what budget it has allocated to the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) in each year since 1 April 2007, broken down by the SPSA Forensic Services branches in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Dundee, (c) Edinburgh and (d) Glasgow.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government allocates grant-in-aid (GIA) to the Scottish Police Services Authority. It is a matter for the SPSA management and board to decide how much funding it should allocate to the individual services it provides to Scottish police forces.

  The total GIA allocated to SPSA since 2007-08 is as follows:

  2007-08 - £83.0 million.

  2008-09 - £96.6 million.

  2009-10 - £102.9 million.

  Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what budget it allocated to the Scottish Police Services Authority for (a) training and (b) recruitment of staff in each year since 1 April 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority. The information requested is not held centrally.

  Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies are available at the Scottish Police Services Authority Forensic Services branches in (a) Aberdeen, (b) Dundee, (c) Edinburgh and (d) Glasgow.

Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). Information on SPSA staff vacancies is not held centrally.

  Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been made to a surveillance commissioner for approval of a chief constable’s grant of authorisation to carry out intrusive surveillance and of these how many have been successful in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not collect the information requested. Information is provided in the annual reports of the chief surveillance commissioner.

  Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police applications to intercept communications sent by post or via telephone have been (a) made and (b) authorised in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: Details of the number of interception warrants issued by the Scottish ministers are contained in the Interception of Communications Commissioner’s annual reports, which are laid before this Parliament. The most recent annual report (for 2008) was laid before Parliament on 21 July 2009, and is available from the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Bib. number 48835).

Prison Service

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the concept of local prison units for women offenders comprising small multi-functional custodial centres with an emphasis on holistic care of offenders and the reduction of reoffending, as promoted by the Howard League for Penal Reform and described in the Corston Report of March 2007; whether it plans to develop the concept further, and, if so, how.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) are reviewing where women prisoners are accommodated. We plan to move towards a more community facing model being developed as part of the SPS Estates Strategy. The first pilot will be at HM Prison Grampian at Peterhead. SPS will aim to locate women closer to home where they have low levels of need and are serving shorter sentences and within a centralised specialist facility where they have more complex needs or risks.

  John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when construction work will start on the building of HMP (a) Inverclyde and (b) Highlands.

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that HMP (a) Inverclyde and (b) Highlands will be available for use.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25597 on 23 July 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

  Construction will commence following site acquisition and the completion of a procurement process for the appointment of a contractor to design and construct the prison. The prisons will open around six months following completion of the construction process.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders are incarcerated in each young offenders’ institution and adult prison for carrying an offensive weapon and how many have a previous history of incarceration

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table shows all prisoners currently in custody with an offence of "offensive weapon".

  

Establishment
Number of Prisoners


Aberdeen
4


Addiewell
23


Barlinnie
95


Cornton Vale
2


Dumfries
8


Edinburgh
18


Glenochil Prison
13


Greenock
2


Inverness
4


Kilmarnock
1


Open Estate
8


Perth
25


Peterhead
1


Polmont
35


Shotts
4


Total
243



  The following table shows the number of prisoners currently in custody with an offence of "offensive weapon" who have a previous history of incarceration.

  

Establishment
Previous History of Incarceration


Aberdeen
3


Addiewell
23


Barlinnie
90


Cornton Vale
1


Dumfries
8


Edinburgh
17


Glenochil Prison
13


Greenock
2


Inverness
3


Kilmarnock
1


Open Estate
7


Perth
24


Peterhead
1


Polmont
32


Shotts
4


Total
229

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders are incarcerated in each young offenders’ institution and adult prison for carrying an offensive weapon and how many have a previous history of incarceration for the same offence.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table shows all prisoners currently in custody with an offence of "offensive weapon".

  

Establishment
Number of Prisoners


Aberdeen
4


Addiewell
23


Barlinnie
95


Cornton Vale
2


Dumfries
8


Edinburgh
18


Glenochil Prison
13


Greenock
2


Inverness
4


Kilmarnock
1


Open Estate
8


Perth
25


Peterhead
1


Polmont
35


Shotts
4


Total
243



  The following table shows all prisoners currently in custody with an offence of "offensive weapon" who also have a historic warrant with the offence of "offensive weapon".

  

Establishment
Number of Prisoners with Previous Offence


Aberdeen
1


Addiewell
12


Barlinnie
63


Dumfries
6


Edinburgh
12


Glenochil Prison
6


Inverness
1


Kilmarnock
1


Open Estate
4


Perth
15


Peterhead
1


Polmont
21


Shotts
2


Total
145

Prison Service

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how staffing numbers have changed in the Scottish Prison Service in each year since 2005, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  

 
1/8/2005
1/8/2006
1/8/2007
1/8/2008
1/8/2009


Aberdeen 
134
133
132
123
124


Barlinnie 
573
577
624
617
616


Central Stores Facility
20
20
19
18
15


Cornton Vale 
256
264
269
259
267


Dumfries 
142
137
144
144
139


Edinburgh 
408
407
398
396
426


Glenochil 
365
356
399
394
387


Greenock 
178
180
188
185
185


Headquarters
272
275
269
257
250


Inverness 
109
111
113
112
110


Low Moss
153
150
0
0
0


Open Estate 
129
155
158
150
146


Perth 
385
348
369
409
407


Peterhead 
207
194
183
171
178


Polmont 
360
337
340
340
362


Shotts 
360
354
377
372
371


SPS College Facility
65
57
58
57
53


 
4,116
4,055
4,040
4,004
4,036

Renewable Energy

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources will come from the European Union to assist with grid connections and upgrading to support renewable energy projects in the Pentland Firth.

Jim Mather: Creating the appropriate grid infrastructure to support future renewable energy developments in the Pentland Firth and throughout Scotland is a priority for this government. It is also a key feature of the Marine Roadmap, being developed by the Forum for Renewable Energy in Scotland’s Marine Energy Group (MEG), and which is due for publication in August.

  The European Union has also identified sub sea grids in the North Sea as a strategic priority for infrastructure. We are currently working with the group led by former German Energy Minister Georg Adamowitsch, who is the European Commissions grid coordinator to prepare recommendations for implementation, which will include funding issues. A number of Scottish bodies have, for example, applied for funding of grid infrastructure projects under the EU’s Economic Recovery Programme, where applications closed on 15 July 2009.

Road Accidents

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been (a) injured and (b) killed in road traffic accidents involving police response vehicles that were (i) in pursuit of another vehicle, (ii) responding to an emergency call and (iii) responding to a non-emergency call in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: (a) (i) and (ii) the numbers of people injured in road traffic accidents involving police vehicles in pursuit of another vehicle or responding to an emergency, in each of the force areas during the last five years are:

  

 
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Central
4
Not known
1
4
1


Dumfries and Galloway
3
5
5
1
0


Grampian
3
2
0
0
3


Lothian and Borders
17
22
18
2
8


Northern
8
0
0
2
4


Strathclyde
20
7
16
19
7


Tayside
0
7
5
6
6


Scotland
61
43
45
34
29



  (b) (i) and (ii) the numbers of people killed in road traffic accidents involving police vehicles in pursuit of another vehicle or responding to an emergency, in each of the force areas during the last five years are:

  

 
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Central
0
Not known
0
1
0


Dumfries and Galloway
0
0
0
0
0


Fife 
0
0
0
0
0


Grampian
0
0
0
0
0


Lothian and Borders
0
0
0
0
0



  (a) (iii) the number of people injured in road traffic accidents involving police vehicles during normal operations, in each of the force areas during the last five years are:

  

 
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Central
4
Not known
5
3
1


Dumfries and Galloway
5
5
4
0
0


Fife 
5
4
1
5
6


Grampian
9
8
6
2
0


Lothian and Borders
28
13
15
39
18


Northern
2
4
4
4
0


Strathclyde
24
3
52
49
75


Tayside
11
0
13
7
10


Scotland 
88
37
100
109
110



  (b) (iii) the numbers of people killed in road traffic accidents involving police vehicles during normal operations, in each of the force areas in the last five years are:

  

 
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


Central
0
Not known
0
0
0


Dumfries and Galloway
0
0
0
0
0


Fife 
0
0
0
0
0


Grampian
0
0
0
0
0


Lothian and Borders
0
0
0
0
0


Northern
0
0
0
0
0


Strathclyde
0
0
2
1
0


Tayside
0
0
0
0
0


Scotland 
0
0
2
1
0



  Notes:

  1. The figures relate to accidents occurring in the financial year.

  2. The information held on road traffic accidents involving police vehicles cannot be split to give separate figures for accidents involving a "pursuit" and those involving an "emergency". The combined figures for "pursuit" and "emergency" are given in the tables.

  3. Information on accidents involving police vehicles responding to a "non-emergency call" is not collected separately. The figures given in the tables above are for accidents occurring during normal operational duties.

  4. Figures from police returns to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland.

Unemployment

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people aged 16 to 18 from the east end of Glasgow was neither employed nor in full-time education in 2007 and 2008 and what the percentage has been in 2009.

Jim Mather: The Annual Population Survey is the official source for data on people not in employment and not in full-time education. The sample size of this survey for people aged 16 to 18 in the east end of Glasgow is too small to provide a reliable estimate.

  Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people aged 18 to 25 from the east end of Glasgow was neither employed nor in full-time education in 2007 and 2008 and what the percentage has been in 2009.

Jim Mather: The Annual Population Survey is the official source for data on people not in employment and not in full-time education. The table below shows estimates from the survey of the percentage of people aged 18 to 25 in the parliamentary constituencies of Glasgow Shettleston and Glasgow Baillieston combined, who were neither employed nor in full-time education in the years 2007 and 2008. The data for 2008 are the most recent available. It is not possible to give separate estimates for each of the constituencies as the survey sample sizes for the individual constituencies are very small and below the reliability threshold for estimates.

  Percentage of People Aged 18 to 25 Neither Employed nor in Full-time Education, Glasgow Shettleston and Glasgow Baillieston, 2007 and 2008

  

Year
Percentage


2007
46.3%


2008
32.0%



  Source: Annual Population Survey.

  Note: The survey sample sizes for these estimates are small; hence the estimates are subject to a high amount of sampling error. The difference between the estimates for 2007 and 2008 is not statistically significant.

  Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people aged over 25 from the east end of Glasgow was neither employed nor in full-time education in 2007 and 2008 and what the percentage has been in 2009.

Jim Mather: The Annual Population Survey is the official source for data on people not in employment and not in full-time education. The table below shows estimates from the survey of the percentage of people aged over 25 and of working age who were neither employed nor in full-time education in the years 2007 and 2008. Estimates are given for the individual parliamentary constituencies of Glasgow Shettleston and Glasgow Baillieston and for the two constituencies combined. The data for 2008 are the most recent available.

  Percentage of People Aged Over 25 and of Working Age Neither Employed nor in Full-Time Education, Glasgow Shettleston and Glasgow Baillieston, 2007 and 2008

  

Year
Glasgow Baillieston
Glasgow Shettleston
Shettleston and Baillieston Combined


2007
35.5%
43.6%
39.3%


2008
35.8%
38.9%
37.4%



  Source: Annual Population Survey.

  Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest figures are for the percentage of 16 to 19 year olds who are not in employment, education or training in (a) the 15% most deprived areas and (b) Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop: The Annual Population Survey is the official source for data on people not in employment, education or training.

  (a) In 2008, 24.6% of 16 to 19 year olds in the 15% most deprived areas were not in employment, education or training.

  (b) In 2008, 11.9% of 16 to 19 year olds in Scotland were not in employment, education or training.

Vaccinations

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many lives on average it expects would be saved annually by switching from seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) to either 10 or 13-valent PCV.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert advisory body which provides advice to ministers on issues in relation to vaccination and immunisation, has considered the effectiveness of higher valent pneumococcal vaccines, including consideration of the estimated number of deaths that may be prevented in the form of quality adjusted life years (QALYs). This data cannot currently be released as a competitive tendering process is ongoing in relation to pneumococcal vaccines and releasing the data would unduly influence this process.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, whether its representatives on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation have had discussions on possible recommendations to fast-track approval of the higher valency pneumococcal conjugate vaccines that are expected to be licensed later in 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has not considered any such proposal. Issues concerning the licensing of vaccines are for the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to consider.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce vaccination with the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for patients (a) who have received bone marrow transplants, (b) with HIV infection and (c) with chronic renal disease and whether a targeted campaign will be run soon to protect these groups from pneumococcal pneumonia as a complication of the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert advisory body which provides advice to ministers on matters in relation to vaccination and immunisation, has recently recommended that the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine should be offered to HIV infected people, individuals who receive bone marrow transplants and people who have chronic renal disease. Accordingly national guidance on immunisation for the NHS will be updated to reflect this fact, and routine communications to the NHS in Scotland in relation to the pneumococcal vaccination programme will reflect this change from this year forward.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce vaccination with the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine for health workers and additional individuals aged 15 to 65 who are not in the current clinical risk groups.

Nicola Sturgeon: There are no current plans to introduce vaccination with the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine for health workers and additional individuals aged 15 to 65 who are not in the current clinical risk groups.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, whether the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) or Health Protection Scotland and Scottish Executive representatives on the JCVI have given consideration to a catch-up vaccination programme against pneumococcal pneumonia for children who may have missed vaccination with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) or would benefit from a higher valency PCV.

Nicola Sturgeon: The latest figures from NHS Information Services Division, relating to the period 1 January to 31 March 2009, indicate that uptake of the pneumococcal vaccination in Scotland remains very high. Uptake of two doses of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), which is scheduled at two and four months of age, was 97.2% for children reaching age 12 months during this period. 93.8% of children reaching age 24 months during this period had also completed the booster course scheduled at 13 months. Therefore, there are no plans for a catch-up campaign and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has not recommended such a campaign.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of MMR2 vaccination it regards as providing sufficient herd immunity to prevent an outbreak of measles as has happened in Wales and in how many of the last 10 years this level was exceeded.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is generally considered that at least 90% of children need to be immune to stop measles spreading. Currently 8% of the population aged 5-16 years in Scotland are estimated to be susceptible to measles. By individual year cohort, the proportion of the population that are susceptible to measles are:

  

Cohort Year
% Susceptible to Measles


5 to <6
5.8%


6 to <7
6.8%


7 to <8
8.2%


8 to <9
9.5%


9 to <10
9.9%


10 to <11
8.5%


11 to <12
8.6%


12 to <13
9.0%


13 to <14
8.8%


14 to <15
8.9%


15 to <16
8.7%

Vaccinations

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is assessing the uptake of MMR vaccination following its decision not to follow England’s example of a specific catch-up programme.

Nicola Sturgeon: MMR vaccine uptake continues to be carefully monitored through robust routine surveillance. Latest figures from Information Services Division of NHS Scotland, relating to evaluation period 1 January to 31 March 2009, indicate that 92.9% of children reaching age 24 months during this period had received MMR1, rising to 95.6% for children reaching five years of age during this period. 87.2% of the latter group had also received MMR2. For children reaching age six years, 90.4% had received two doses of MMR.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the emerging epidemiology of influenza A (H1N1) and the fact that 100% population vaccination is unlikely until late in 2010, whether it has reached a conclusion as to the priority system that will be used to vaccinate individuals from mid-August 2009.

Nicola Sturgeon: As announced on 13 August 2009, the following priority groups have been prioritised to receive the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine:

  People aged over six months and up to 65 years in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups;

  All pregnant women, subject to licensing considerations;

  Household contacts of people with compromised immune systems e.g. people in regular close contact with patients on treatment for cancer and

  People aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups. This does not include otherwise healthy over 65s, since they appear to have some natural immunity to the virus.

  Frontline health and social care workers will be vaccinated at the same time as the first priority group.

  Vaccination of these groups will take place once the vaccine has been licensed by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA). It is anticipated the programme will commence from around the middle of October.

  Preparations are being made to extend the vaccination programme beyond these initial groups and further independent scientific advice will be provided to inform decisions.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether membership of the at-risk groups for influenza vaccine will be amended for pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine.

Nicola Sturgeon: The current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups will be vaccinated as a priority group against influenza A (H1N1).

  As announced on 13 August 2009, the following priority groups have been prioritised to receive the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine:

  People aged over six months and up to 65 years in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups;

  All pregnant women, subject to licensing considerations;

  Household contacts of people with compromised immune systems e.g. people in regular close contact with patients on treatment for cancer and

  People aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups. This does not include otherwise healthy over 65s, since they appear to have some natural immunity to the virus.

  Frontline health and social care workers will be vaccinated at the same time as the first priority group.

  Preparations are being made to extend the vaccination programme beyond these initial groups and further independent scientific advice will be provided to inform decisions.

  Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether people with Addison’s disease and people who have had polio will be added to the at-risk group for routine winter influenza vaccination.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent expert advisory group that provides advice to ministers on issues relating to vaccination and immunisation, has recently agreed that conditions such as Addison’s Disease should be considered for flu vaccination on an individual basis. However the JCVI also noted that it is difficult to define at what level of immunosuppression a patient could be considered to be at a greater risk of the serious consequences of influenza. Therefore the JCVI’s view was that such a decision was best made on an individual basis and should be left to clinicians.

  Similarly, the JCVI also agreed that patients who are survivors of polio could be considered to have a serious neurological condition depending on their current condition, and could be considered for flu vaccination.

  This advice is in line with existing national guidance, which sets out a range clinical conditions which can indicate that an individual may be at risk from seasonal influenza. The current list of clinical conditions includes immunosuppressed individuals and those with neurological conditions. As with all other at-risk conditions it is for the clinician to consider in each case whether or not an individual is at risk from the seasonal flu and would benefit from the vaccination.

  Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine that will be made available in the United Kingdom is the same one as will be available in other countries.

Nicola Sturgeon: Both vaccine manufacturers that are providing vaccine to the UK have contracts in place to provide vaccine to a number of other countries. The vaccines being purchased for the UK are being considered for licensing by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA), the European regulators. When this process has been completed, the vaccines will be licensed for use in all EU countries.

  Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine being developed will be capable of combating any mutations in the virus.

Nicola Sturgeon: There may be some protection conferred to those vaccinated with the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine against future mutations in the virus, however it is not possible to estimate what mutations may occur and therefore it is not possible to know with any certainty what level of protection may be provided.

  Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what the possible side effects are from taking the influenza A (H1N1) vaccine.

Nicola Sturgeon: All vaccinations can produce side effects such as soreness and swelling at the site of the injection. The H1N1 vaccines are not live and so cannot cause flu. Some vaccines, including vaccines similar to the swine flu vaccine, can cause flu-like symptoms but they are very much milder than having the flu itself and only last for a day or so.